A DEBATE between the candidates in the upcoming Wanstead by-election has been cancelled.

The news comes in the wake of the police arresting a British National Party (BNP) canvasser last night for allegedly launching a racist tirade against a black woman.

However the hustings was called off before the news of the attack became public, due to fears that there "might be trouble" if it went ahead, coupled with a Labour party decision not to share a platform with the BNP.

According to a list of BNP members that was leaked last year, only two people are registered supporters of the party in Wanstead out of a population of over 20,000.

But organisers and speakers at the planned debate feared other BNP members from across the country may have turned up at the meeting to "hijack" it.

Most of the candidates welcomed the move, but Green Party nominee Ashley Gunstock said the decision would reinforce the BNP view that they are victimised by the mainstream.

He added: "As much as I disagree strongly with the BNP in a democratic society everyone should be allowed freedom of speech.

"Any trouble could be stopped by a police presence.

"It is the failures of the mainstream parties which has given the BNP support."

Tory nominee Alex Wilson said: "It's a great shame it has been cancelled, I was really looking forward to it.

"But the event has appeared on a number of unsavoury websites and many are worried the meeting could have turned nasty."

Labour candidate Ross Hatfull said: "The party line of the Labour group is not to share a platform with the BNP, but also there are a lot of people concerned there could be trouble if it went ahead."

Liberal Democrat nominee Kate Garrett said: "I think it's quite unfortunate it was cancelled.

"But if it had gone ahead there was a risk it might go the wrong way and end up being counter-productive."

BNP candidate John Evans said: "It shows to me what the other parties are made of.

"If you disagree with me at least be man enough to sit down and talk to me about it.

"I could name all the people that were going to come from the BNP, it was only a handful, there wasn't going to be any trouble."

In a statement, Wanstead's Counties Residents Association (CRA), who organised the meeting, said: "At 10am today the CRA were informed by the Labour party that their candidate was not prepared to 'share the platform' with the British National Party - this is of course their right.

"They also stated that it was their intention to still attend and attempt to persuade the other candidates to withdraw - this is in our opinion wrong.

"We have since discovered that the Labour party have already made contact with the other parties in an attempt to dissuade them.

"In light of the above we feel that we have no option than to cancel the Hustings meeting."